"Chocolat" Tastes So Good!

*** 3/4 10.27.08 - Chocolat... 2000... Director Lasse Hallström

A highly underrated film when you think about films you might want to rent and watch. Lassee Hallström creates a magical world that evokes so many emotions that it may surprise you!

A great cast... Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Alfred Molina, and Judi Dench. The characters are rich and full of depth. And Binoche... well... this is an amazing example of a "real" woman in film, complete with curves and a sensuality that equals her co-star... chocolate! I had forgotten how sexy she truly is in this film, from her personality to yes... yes her body which is not the typical, "try not to eat too much," Hollywood ideal. And let me add that this film proves once again why I believe Johnny Depp is such a good actor. He takes chances and doesn't play the same types of characters over and over, his performance in this film is fun and touching.

The DVD provides some excellent behind the scenes information, although the documentary on the making of the film, is a little too "Hollywood Publicist," for me it is interesting. And one of the pieces deals with the art direction for this film which was amazing. Somehow shooting in a village in Europe always makes people yearn for living in a town like this one, although I wonder how many of us would really like living there these days. I doubt that without Internet and some of the other creature comforts that we all so desperately depend on these days we would enjoy it quite as much. lol

Nonetheless, pick up this film... grab a cup of coffee, tea or better yet hot chocolate, cuddle up on the couch and watch it on a rainy day and you will feel all warm and toasty inside.

It's Like American Idol...

Only this time the votes are for real! One of the things I'm most proud of in my life is voting in every election since I was able to... Here we go again!

What Gets You Off?

I know... an odd title to this blog entry, but some times you just have to say, "What the F*&&!" (See "Risky Business" for that quote)

As I was thinking about what to write, since I haven't written in awhile, I started to think about my viewing habits and what I'm watching. Yes I list most of it on here to give you a feel of some of the things I look at, but I really started to think about what's been turning me on lately and the more and more I thought about it, the more and more I come back to cable television. Yep that's right, good old cable.
Now back in the day, there were always good, innovative shows on the air. Those shows that broke new ground, things like "M-A-S-H," "LA Law," "Miami Vice," "Homicide: Life on the Streets," "Law and Order." Really good shows that had long runs on TV... "Law and Order," still going strong and it was fun to watch. But over the years, Cable... places like HBO, Showtime and AMC have come up with some amazing shows: "Entourage," "Californication," "Mad Men."

Right now that's were most of the innovation is coming from right now. Cable, a place where shows can take some chances. Now they're not necessarily re-writing the history books when it comes to format, but they are in terms of the quality of the shows. From the writing, to the production, the performances. All of the shows mention and many others on these same networks have these elements within.




I sit on my couch and watch an episode of "Mad Men," for example and love it. Yes I often time find myself smiling, getting giddy in the middle of the show and at the end of it saying, "Damn... that was some good stuff!"

Who knows, maybe one day I'll get a chance to work on a show like these or others... something special and I'll be able to look back and see the great work that I and others have accomplished, but until that happens, hats off to those who do work in this area of film and television, because right now... you're hitting the ball out of the park and I love watching what you're serving up!

Double Your Pleasure

*** 1/2 09.29.08 - The Aviator... 2004 ... Director Martin Scorsese

OK, this may not be Martin's best film ever, but it certainly is a good film. Leonardo DiCaprio stars with Kate Beckinsale stealing the show as Katharine Hepburn. The film, based on the life and times of Howard Hughes, gives us an insight into the man and his love of films, flying and his battle with OCD.

The DVD is great, tons of extras and for the extras alone it's worth a purchase!

*** 1/2 09.30.08 - 25Th Hour... 2002 ... Director Spike Lee

In an effort of full disclosure, I am a huge Spike Lee fan! (And no we're not related) He's one of my icons of film and one of the reasons I do what I do. I've seen just about everything he's done and for me this ranks up there as one of his best films ever.

First the cast is outstanding: Ed Norton, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Anna Paquin, Barry Pepper and Rosario Dawson just to name a few.

Rodrigo Prieto shot the film and it has a texture and feel about it that I love, rich with color and emotion. Unfortunately Spike DID throw in his standard "Dolly" shot where it looks like someone is floating... I hate that shot by the way, but other than that it's a beautifully shot piece.

The soundtrack is haunting, the theme of the film interesting and the final sequence of the film touching... true "man-love" which is OK! (See Shawshank Redemption and you'll get my point)

What also makes this film powerful is that it was the first big film shot right after "9/11" and you get a sense of the city of New York and the emotions and what people were going through during this time.

The DVD has a few extras and it's a nice pick up to add to your collection!

It's Been A Little Bit.. But Good Things Come to Those Who Wait!

Sorry I haven't written more lately, I actually have a couple of new screenings to put up, maybe i can get to them tonight.

Another reason why I haven't been so blog "chatty," is that there is a certain amount of stress going on right now and no I don't mean the credit crunch, which I know is affecting us all, but just some personal stuff and that always tends to weigh heavily on a persons mind, so it's tough to write.

Dealing with "life" and other things takes me to my theory of writing and why I don't just write everyday. See I feel if I were to write now, all of the stuff I would be putting out would come from a point of stress and it would show. maybe some of the work would be decent, but I feel, at least for me, my work has a cleaner, more dynamic voice when the stress is more manageable. What do you think? How do you write when times are tough, I'd love to hear your take on things.

Bottom line though, I still feel like I'm in a creative period... just resting up for the next round!